Hey, Listen to This!

This week on Hey, Listen to This! , Matt and Ryan are handing listeners a curated compilation of the songs they’ve fallen in love with throughout the show’s run. Putting this retrospective together gave the guys a chance to dig into past reviews and spotlight the tracks that resonated most. Whether you’ve been following along since the Hot Fuss review or just discovered the show, grab your headpho...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan are reviewing Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell. Released in 1974, this album infuses folk rock with jazz elements. It remains Joni's most successful album, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard 200. Check out what the guys have to say about the album! Listen to the album: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUPdGVF6ESU80R7Mfqj7fhGSX500Jx8Zb&si=A-0fvQXKGSDT59...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan are reviewing Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast. Released in 2021, this album was a major breakthrough for the group that resulted in a few Grammy nominations. The record does mark a change in the group's sound, with the band producing a lush and playful indie pop record. Check out what the guys have to say about the record! Listen to the album: https://youtube.co...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan are reviewing The Art of Loving by Olivia Dean. This album has been the big breakthrough for Olivia due to massive singles "Nice to Each Other," "Lady Lady," and last but not least, "Man I Need." Olivia explores several different genres throughout this recording, including neo-soul, bossa nova, jazz pop, and Motown. Check out what the guys have to say about th...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan review The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Released in 2012, this Grammy-winning Rap Album of the Year features massive hits like "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us." Macklemore is bringing everything to this record by delivering themes of social justice and addiction to comedy across the tracklist. Tune in to hear our full breakdown! Listen to the album:...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan review Dolly Parton’s late-80s album, White Limozeen. Produced by Ricky Skaggs, the 1989 record brought Dolly back to her country roots following the disappointment of 1987’s Rainbow. The album features a duet with Mac Davis, a powerful cover of Don Francisco’s "He’s Alive," and a bluegrass take on REO Speedwagon’s "Time for Me to Fly." Tune in to hear our ful...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan tackle a bucket-list album: Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. Following the breakthrough success of Good Kid, m. A.A.d City, this record explores how Kendrick copes with newfound fame and structural injustice. Frequently cited as one of the greatest albums of all time, tune in to hear what the guys think! Listen to the album: https://youtube.com/playlist?l...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan take a break from the usual deep dive into the discography of Metallica. The two hosts will take turns picking albums from that catalogue and see how they rate on All Music. The host that picks the best-rated selection of albums will win bragging rights and have the ability to choose the artist on the next episode of Discography Draft. Whether you are a fa...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan are venturing into the world of Philly Soul by reviewing the album "360 Degrees of Billy Paul" by Billy Paul. Known for his hit "Me and Mrs. Jones", Billy was a foundational artist for developing the "Philly Sound". Artists like Questlove place him alongside legends like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder for his socially conscious art. Check out what the guys have...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan jump back into the world of emo rock to review Joyce Manor's album, I Used To Go To This Bar. Formed in 2008, the band built a dedicated following through word of mouth and grew into a cornerstone of the 2010s emo revival alongside acts like Tigers Jaw, The Menzingers, Title Fight, and Touché Amoré. While Joyce Manor remains a punk rock band at heart, I Used T...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan tackle one of the biggest albums in history: Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York. This performance has been cited as one of the most legendary in the history of MTV Unplugged due to the setlist and the overall performance from the band. In this setlist, the group decided to highlight some of the deeper cuts in their catalogue alongside doing covers of undergro...

​On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan tackle one of the biggest albums in history: Green Day's Dookie. After years of building an underground following through relentless live shows, the band's major label debut sparked immediate controversy, with of the punk scene labeling them "sellouts." Despite the backlash, Dookie propelled Green Day to rock stardom in a matter of months. Tune in to hear wha...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan take a break from the usual deep dive into the discography of Michael Jackson. The two hosts will take turns picking albums from that catalogue and see how they rate on All Music. The host that picks the best-rated selection of albums will win bragging rights and have the ability to choose the artist on the next episode of Discography Draft. Whether you ar...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan are reviewing Olivia Rodrigo's critically acclaimed third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. Critics are calling this record a major step forward in maturity for her songwriting. While she pulls from several distinct styles throughout the tracklist, her nod to the 80s and The Cure stands out the most. Check out what the guys have to say! If you...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan are reviewing moisturizer, the highly anticipated sophomore album by Wet Leg. The group broke out in 2022 with the massive success of their self-titled debut LP and electrifying live shows, earning several Grammy and Brit Award nominations along the way. This records sees the band expanding their sound from the pop stylings of "pokemon" to the hard rocking "pi...

This week, Matt and Ryan are stepping away from the track-by-track deep dives to test their knowledge of LGBTQIA+ artists! With Jamie officially taking over the studio, she’s designed a trivia game inspired by the React YouTube series. Joining the fray is Rachel—can she swoop in and take the crown? From the genius of David Bowie to classic one-hit wonders, absolutely nothing is off-limits. If you...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan revisit The Boss himself: Bruce Springsteen. They take a look at his album Born in the U.S.A. in honor of the 4th of July. In the episode, the guys discuss some of Bruce's biggest songs: "Born in the U.S.A.," "Glory Days," and "Dancing in the Dark." Check out what the guys have to say about the album! Listen to the album: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan wrap up their Pride Month celebration by diving into The Whaler by Home Is Where. Hailing from Florida, this group has quickly risen from local favorites to a modern punk staple, largely thanks to their intense live shows. As their first full-length release, The Whaler sees the band drawing on an eclectic mix of influences, from Fugazi to Neutral Milk Hotel. C...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan are continuing their Pride Month Celebration by reviewing Ingénue by k.d. lang. Released in 1992, it is Lang's most successful album on the charts. The album features a couple of her biggest songs "Constant Craving" and "Season of Hollow Soul". Check out what the guys have to say about the album! Listen to the album: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNPGM2D7...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan are continuing their Pride Month Celebration by reviewing HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish. This album comes after her sophomore release Happier Than Ever that was released during the pandemic. With HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, Billie explores themes of romantic love, loss of connection and the pitfalls of fame. Check out what the guys have to say about the reco...

On this week's episode, Matt and Ryan kick off Pride Month by reviewing The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie. Ziggy Stardust is widely considered to be Bowie's breakthrough album. Some of Bowie's best songs are on this record, including 'Starman' and 'Suffragette City'. Check out what the guys have to say about the album! Listen to the album: https://youtube...

This week, Matt and Ryan finish off their two-part series: What Is The Best Weezer Album? Last week they reviewed The Blue Album, and now Pinkerton is on deck. Initially a commercial flop, this 1996 record has since gained cult-classic status and is frequently cited as the band's definitive masterpiece. Does it live up to the legendary hype, or will the guys crown the debut record as the ultimate...

This week on Hey, Listen to This!, Matt and Ryan are kicking off a massive two-part showdown. We are diving deep into the discography of a band that defined alternative pop-rock in the 90s, with one ultimate goal in mind: determining once and for all which record reigns supreme as the absolute best in Weezer's catalogue. In Part 1 of our series, we are taking it back to May 1994 to break down thei...

This week, Matt and Ryan review Justin Bieber’s 2025 album, SWAG. As the long-awaited follow-up to 2021’s Justice, the record has been met with generally favorable reviews. Writing for The New Yorker, Brady Brickner-Wood praised the project, noting, 'Bieber has never sounded this wild, this expansive, this connected to something true.' Tune in to hear what the guys have to say about the album! Lis...

This week, Matt and Ryan review the 1961 release from Oliver Nelson called The Blues and the Abstract Truth. This album is Nelson's most acclaimed and features some notable musicians: Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes. The record is noted for its unique ensemble arrangements. Check out what we have to say about the album! Listen to the album: https://youtub...